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Trip from Seattle, WA to La Center, WA

Drive Time

2h 58m

Distance

151.3 mi

243 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$32

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

11 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 34 min
4 AM
2h 47m ★
6 AM
2h 58m
8 AM
3h 21m
10 AM
3h 6m
12 PM
3h 4m
3 PM
3h 7m
5 PM
3h 20m
8 PM
2h 52m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Seattle, WA, WA

Seattle, WA

Josh Hild

Downtown La Center, WA, WA

La Center, WA

Julio Lopez

Trip Overview

The drive from Seattle, WA to La Center, WA covers 151.3 miles and takes about 2h 58m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 5, Northwest La Center Road, Northwest 319th Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 148.4 miles on I 5. At current regular gas prices, budget about $31.76 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

75.6 miles from Seattle, WA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 30m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a 2h 58m highway drive covering 151.3 miles, with most of the trip on I 5 and Northwest La Center Road. The longest continuous stretch is about 148.4 miles on I 5.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 5 is the longest continuous segment at about 148.4 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and Northwest La Center Road. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Spring Street.

Route Complexity 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 151.3 miles you will encounter 14 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Spring Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1 miles (I 5): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.1 miles (I 5): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 14 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

7
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | Spring Street

Turn right onto Spring Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.
6
1 mi into trip | ~2m in | I 5

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 toward I 90 East, I 5 South: Bellevue, Portland

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 90 East, I 5 South: Bellevue, Portland
7
1.1 mi into trip | ~2m in | I 5

Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 toward I 5 South: Tacoma, Portland

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 5 South: Tacoma, Portland
7
1.2 mi into trip | ~2m in | I 5

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 toward I 5 South: Sea-Tac Airport

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 5 South: Sea-Tac Airport
8
148.8 mi into trip | ~2h 53m in

Take the exit toward La Center, Cowlitz Reservation

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 16 Toward La Center, Cowlitz Reservation

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 5 148.4 mi 2h 52m
Northwest La Center Road 1.8 mi 3m
Northwest 319th Street 0.1 mi <1m
Spring Street 0.1 mi <1m
Northwest Pacific Highway 0.1 mi <1m
West 4th Street 0.1 mi <1m
4th Avenue <0.1 mi <1m
Madison Street <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 5 — 148.4 mi, about 2h 52m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Seattle, WA and La Center, WA.

1

Start on this road

31 ft · 7 sec · this road
2

Turn left onto Madison Street

204 ft · 11 sec · Madison Street
3

Turn right onto 4th Avenue

308 ft · 14 sec · 4th Avenue
4

Turn right onto Spring Street

0.1 mi · 26 sec · Spring Street
Use the right lane.
5

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 28 sec
Toward I 5 South: Portland
6

Continue on I 5

0.6 mi · 1 min · I 5
Use the left lane.
7

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5

147 ft · 2 sec · I 5
Toward I 90 East, I 5 South: Bellevue, Portland
8

Keep slight right at fork onto I 5

0.1 mi · 8 sec · I 5
Toward I 5 South: Tacoma, Portland
9

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5

305 ft · 4 sec · I 5
Toward Airport Way
10

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5

30 mi · 38 min · I 5
Toward I 5 South: Sea-Tac Airport Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Keep slight right at fork onto I 5

117 mi · 2 hr 12 min · I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 36 sec
Exit 16 Toward La Center, Cowlitz Reservation Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Enter roundabout onto Northwest 319th Street

289 ft · 5 sec · Northwest 319th Street
14

Continue on Northwest 319th Street

472 ft · 11 sec · Northwest 319th Street
15

Enter roundabout onto Northwest La Center Road

153 ft · 3 sec · Northwest La Center Road
16

Continue on Northwest La Center Road

1.8 mi · 3 min · Northwest La Center Road
17

Continue on Northwest Pacific Highway

0.1 mi · 21 sec · Northwest Pacific Highway
18

Enter roundabout onto West 4th Street

24 ft · 0 sec · West 4th Street
19

Continue on West 4th Street

522 ft · 19 sec · West 4th Street
20

Turn right

58 ft · 4 sec
21

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 75.6 miles from Seattle, WA, or about 1h 30m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 148.4 miles.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 80 miles or 1h 35m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 75.6 miles or 1h 30m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 25m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near La Center, WA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Seattle, WA so your first major turns are already loaded.

+

Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.

+

Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Seattle, WA

This is one driving day of about 151.3 miles and 2h 58m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Seattle, WA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 5 for about 148.4 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 75.6 mi from Seattle, WA · 1h 30m into the drive

Downtown Centralia, WA, WA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Centralia, WA

76 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

Centralia, WA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Centralia, WA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 75.6 miles from Seattle, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 5 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 148.4 miles.

Arriving in La Center, WA

The final approach into La Center, WA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around La Center, WA.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park

Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park

National Historical Park

Seattle flourished during and after the Klondike Gold Rush. Merchants supplied people from around the world passing through this port city on their way to a remarkable adventure in the Yukon Territory...

0 mi from route ~1 min detour Free
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$31.76 one way

$63.51 round trip

$5.33/gal 25.4 MPG avg 53 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $5.57 $33.16 $66.32
premium $5.77 $34.38 $68.75
diesel $5.64 $33.61 $67.23

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$32

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$57–$82

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 52.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

EV Charging Along Route

11 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

Fred Meyer - Tesla Supercharger

Seattle, WA

Tesla

12 DCFC

Ballard Blocks - Tesla Supercharger

Seattle, WA

Tesla

8 DCFC

Interbay Business Center

Seattle, WA

eVgo Network

4 DCFC

2+U - Tesla Supercharger

Seattle, WA

Tesla

4 DCFC

FRED MEYER 608 (Ballard, WA)

Seattle, WA

Electrify America

3 DCFC

BoA Queen Anne WA3-154 (Seattle, WA)

Seattle, WA

Electrify America

3 DCFC

District 13

Seattle, WA

Non-Networked

2 DCFC

Ballard Blocks

Seattle, WA

eVgo Network

2 DCFC

Tesla: 3 eVgo Network: 2 ChargePoint Network: 2 Electrify America: 2 Non-Networked: 1 OpConnect: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 45.4 0 $15.89 $7.26
Efficient EV 37.8 0 $13.24 $6.05
EV Truck/SUV 60.5 0 $21.18 $9.68

Gas CO2

53 kg

EV CO2

18 kg (66% less)

This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.

DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Seattle, WA

Afternoon in Seattle on Monday

Local time

12:18 PM

PDT

Current temp

41°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

La Center, WA

Afternoon in La Center on Monday

Local time

12:18 PM

PDT

Current temp

56°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Seasonal Notes

Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.

Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.

Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.

Time zone

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

15 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

2h 58m on the road

Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Seattle, WA to La Center, WA covers 151.3 miles and takes about 2h 58m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 5, Northwest La Center Road, Northwest 319th Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 75.6 miles from Seattle, WA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $31.76 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 151.3 miles you will encounter 14 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Spring Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1 miles (I 5): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.1 miles (I 5): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Seattle, WA to La Center, WA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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Return Trip

La Center, WA to Seattle, WA

Plan the drive back the other way.

151.1 mi 2h 57m

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